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Pumping of Fuel - Oil-Some Guidelines
Pumping of Fuel - Oil-Some Guidelines
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2007 www.pumpschool.com
Conversely, DO NOT
Installing a vacuum gauge and a pressure gauge on or near the pump will also help
lengthen service life. Gauges provide a window into what is happening inside the
pumping system. Properly interpreted readings can give clues to the nature of many
problems. Long-term readings will show gradual changes taking place within the
system.
Given the availability of certain fuels at any particular time, many fuel oil systems
now accommodate various fuels (#2 through # 6 fuel oil for example). Each fuel oil
differs slightly in properties and these differences place unique demands on the system.
Be sure to discuss these differences with your pump/system supplier.
Handling Crude Oil
Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid found in formations of the earth. Its
typically extracted by large reciprocating pumps called pump jacks. The crude oil is
then refined into fuels such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other fuel oils.
Characteristics such as color and viscosity vary from site to site, but typically fall into the
following ranges:
Location
Texas, Oklahoma
Wyoming, Montana
California
Pennsylvania
Viscosity
40-780 SSU (4-170 cSt) at 60F (15C)
34-210 SSU (2.5-45 cSt) at 100F (38C)
75-1,200 SSU (15-250 cSt) at 60F (15C)
45-300 SSU (5.5-65 cSt) at 100F (38C)
40-4,800 SSU (4-1,050 cSt) at 60F (15C)
34-700 SSU (2.5-150 cSt) at 100F (38C)
45-200 SSU (5.5-40 cSt) at 60F (15C)
38-90 SSU (3.5-18 cSt) at 100F (38C)
2007 www.pumpschool.com
2007 www.pumpschool.com
Large rotary pumps are often used in the refining process of fuel oil as well as for
transport and delivery. Upon delivery, smaller rotary pumps take over (usually 30 GPM
& smaller), often assembled as a duplex pump system complete with drive equipment,
strainers, valves, and controls (figure 1). These duplex systems insure continuous oil
delivery to critical applications such as:
Depending on the service and system location, these pumps may require special
construction and testing (i.e. pumps which are UL-343 listed for fuel oil service).
Figure 1
Duplex fuel oil skid for delivering
#2 fuel oil built by Viking Pump
Control Panel
Suction Header
Discharge Header
Basket Strainers
Motors
Check Valves
UL-343 listed
Internal Gear Pumps
2007 www.pumpschool.com
2007 www.pumpschool.com